Chicago – by way of Dayton, Ohio – rockers Hospital Garden pay homage to their early 90′s alternative rock idols on its self-titled debut album.

If it were at all possible for R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe and Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis to procreate, that union would likely result in the birth of a child with the vocal chords of Hospital Garden lead vocalist Lucas Hollow.

One of the many highlights of Hospital Garden is Hollow’s voice. Like his band, which is able to absorb and incorporate the best parts of bands like Pavement and Dinosaur Jr, Hollow’s voice nails the characteristics of those group’s vocalists. Hospital Garden’s best songs are so because Hollow lets loose and gets emotional. When he loses that intensity and slips into a droning monotone, the album suffers from the change in momentum.

The bouncy rock track “Fire Stories,” which opens the album, contains both of Hollow’s vocal characteristics; a low, haunting monotone that builds to a quick yelp. Second track “Look Alive” really jumpstarts the album. Hollow embraces his inner J Mascis yelling and straining to show his emotion while distorted guitar, dominate bass lines (courtesy of Sarah Carey), and thudding drum beats (courtesy of Ian Spencer) swirl throughout the song.

“Red Flagger” is the perfect memorial to heavy, grunge rock. Imagine Michael Stipe singing over a Bleach-era Nirvana track. It provides the perfect lead-in for the Carey-helmed “Banshee.” While it is yet another fast-paced, early 90s alternative rock-influenced song, “Banshee” makes the listener want to get up and thrash about. Whereas Pixies bassist Kim Deal has a bit of girlish cutesiness to her vocals, Hospital Garden bassist Sarah Carey exudes a stronger womanly cool as she questions “You said you want it all, but if you want it all? Why don’t you want me?”

Even though “Banshee” proves Carey is a talented vocalist in her own right, she is relegated to backing vocalist duty for much of the album. Her second biggest vocal track surfacing on the slow, almost folk rock-inspired “Yspi.”

Hospital Garden are obviously students of early 90’s alternative rock and their debut is their well-written and well-researched thesis statement. See you at graduation.
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Catch Hospital Garden Friday, April 9 at the Beat Kitchen for their record release party. Tickets are on sale at Ticketweb.com right now for only $8!
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Hospital Garden covering “Rock and Roll Radio” at a Ramones Tribute in 2009.

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